``It was my accountant's fault,'' said Mark Levy, of Boca Raton, as he walked his 1997 income tax return to the mailbox at the main branch of the U.S Post Office at 1900 W. Oakland Park Blvd.four hours before the Internal Revenue Service's midnight deadline.

``Really. I was ready since January,'' Levy said. ``But my accountant had some kind of computer problem.''

The IRS estimates about 30 percent of filers _ between 36 million and 37 million people _ wait until the last two weeks to mail their returns.

Employees at the post office's main branch were prepared for the annual onslaught. A group of employees _ called the Quality Work Life Circle _ began planning and organizing this gala event three months ago.

The main branch was open until midnight for those who needed stamps and help from an IRS volunteer. Employees were posted in strategic locations around the parking lot for quick drive-through service. And Oakland Park Police Officer Karl Poehl, who had been in on the initial planning, kept the mile-long flow of traffic moving in sync.

No one was injured in the fray.

``Most people are in a good mood,'' said Richard Sullivan, customer relations coordinator for the post office. Maria Rivera, 42, of Hollywood, was not.

``I waited until the last minute cause I didn't want to pay,'' Rivera said.

Thousands of others opted to delay the inevitable. IRS revenue officer Edwin Hernandez directed many to Form 4868, the tax extension form, which gives them until Aug. 15 to file.